Dyeing machine



May 3,1927. 1,627,347

J. H. SKITT DYEING MACHINE Filed Feb.27. 1924 s shets sheet 1' l n I I n 1 4 l .May 3, 1-921.

J. H. SKITT DYEING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 3 1927. 1,627,347

J. H. SKITT DYEING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J. H. SKITT DYEING MACHINE May 3 1927.

Filed Febj27, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. H. SKITT DYEING MACHINE Filed eb.27. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 3, 19 27 a UNITED STATES JAMES H, TSKITT, or mm am,

COMPANY, 013 PHILADELPHIA, rnnnsynvnnm, A PARTNERSHIP oonsxszrme or t PENNSYLVANIA; nssienoa 'ro sm'rn, RUM a ROBERT P. SMITH AND GEORGE E. D RUM.

DYEING MAQHINE.

"Application filed February 27, 1924. "Serial'N'o.f65 ,53b.

My invention relates to dyeing machines, and more particularly to that type of machine which employs a cage for the articles" to he treated which is movable into and out of the vat or tank which contains the dye or other liquid, the machine also including a paddle wheel or other agitating element which operates within the cage to agitate the mechanism thegarticles and the dye.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a machine of this type in which a single mechanism is adapted to move both the cage and the paddle wheel, and in thepreferred'form of my device I mount the paddle wheel in the cage itself whereby they are movable as an integral structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism for actuating the agitator with which the said agitator has operative connection only when the cage lies within the dye vat, the arrangement including means for automatically making and breaking this operative connection as 'thecage is moved into and out of the vat.

A further object of the invention is to.

provide a machine of the above mentioned type comprising a single source of power for both moving the cage and actuating the paddle wheel. i

- A still further object of the invention is to provide a single control element for the operating mechanism so connected with the latter that when the motor is connected with for shifting the cage, the motor is disconnected from the paddle wheel actuating mechanism, and vice versa. 7 y y The invention further resides in a novel automatic control mechanism whereby the operation of the machine is interrupted when the cage has reached either one of the extremes of its travel. These and other advantageous ends appearing hereinafterI accomplish by means 7 of the mechanism illustrated in the attached drawings, in which 7 Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine made in accordance with my invention showing the cage resting within the vat;

Fi g. 2 18 a plan view of the machine with the parts in the positions illustrated in- Fig. 1

Fig.

' chine with the parts as shown in Fig. 1;

3 is a rear end elevation of the ma Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the machine illustrating the cage in an elevated position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of the motor control mechanism;

Fig. 6 isa diz'igrammaticview illustrative of the said control mechanism, and

'Fig. 7 and 8 are side elevational views more or less diagrammatic illustrating a modification within the scope of the inventron. v

With reference to the drawings and particularly to .Figs. 1 to 4;, inclusive, the machine in its preferred form comprises the usual vat body 1 having at one side an inlet 2and at the other side a discharge port 3; The vat itself is semi-cylindrical and is adapted for reception of a cage 4;, which cage is journaled at one end upon a shaft 5 in the body 1. The cage at its otherend is provided with .a flange 6 which rests upon the top of the body 1, as "clearly indicated, and with the shaft 5 supports the cagein its proper position within the vat. V

The cage 4 carries in bearings 8, 8, a shaft 9 which in turn carries a paddle wheel 10, theshaft 9 also having at one end 'agear 11 which is adapted to mesh with-a gear. 12 ona spindle 13 mounted in the body '1. The spindle 13 also carries a sprocket 1 1 which is connected by a chain 15 with a sprocket 16 loosely'mounted upon a transverse shaft 17, which latter is journaled at 18 and 19 on the body 1. This shaft carries at its inner end a bevel gear 21 which meshes with a bevel gear 22, the latter in the present in stance being secured to a gear 23 which, with the said bevel gear 2:2, is loosely mounted upon a shaft 24 extending longitudinally of the body 1' and journal'ed in manner. The shaft 2 L carries a worm 25 which meshes with a worm wheel 26' on a trans verse shaft 27 journaled in the body 1, and this shaft 27 carries at each end an arm 28 which through a rod 29 is connected to an arm 30 secured at 30 to the cage 4. The arm 30 has secured the'retoa short arm 31 which 'is pivotal'ly supported on the shaft 5,- and a third arm 32 also pivotally supported on the shaft 5 extends forwardly to that iid of the arm 30 which attaches to the cage elevating and lowering the cage around the said shaft as a pivot.

The power for actuating the shaft 27 and for thereby elevating and lowering the cage 4 is provided in the present instance by an electric motor 34 suitably mounted in the body, and this motor shaft carries a pinion 35 which meshes with a gear 36 upon a countershaft 37 journaled at 38, 38, in the body. This countershaft carries a pinion 39 which meshes with the gear 23. It will be apparent that the motor 34 is employed not only to operate the cage-raising and lowering mechanism, but also through the shaft 17 and the related parts to actuate the paddle wlieel 10.

As previously described, the gear 23 and pinion 22 are loosely mounted upon the shaft 24, as also is the sprocket 16 upon the shaft 17, and in each instance a clutch is provided for operatively connecting these parts to their respective shafts. The gear 23 carries a clutch element 41 which is adapted to be engaged by a clutch element 42 splined to the shaft 24, and the position of the movable clutch element 42 is con trolled through a shaft 43 suitably journaled in the body, which shaft carries arms 44, 44, each having a pin 45 engaging in a circumferential groove 46 in the said element 42 whereby when the shaft 43 1s rocked, the element 42 is shifted longitudinally of the shaft 24 and into or out of engagement with the element 41 as desired. The shaft 43 carries an arm 47 which is connected by means of a connecting rod 48 with an operating lever 49 pivotally secured at 50 to the forward end of the body 1, as best illustrated in Fig. 1. The arm 47 is also connected through a connecting rod 52 with an arm 53 upon a shaft 54 journaled in a bearing 55 on the body. This shaft 54 carries at its inner end a forked arm 56 having on each fork a pin 57 which engages in a circumferential groove 58 on a movable clutch element 59 splined to the shaft 17. The sprocket 16 carries a clutch element 61 which is adapted for ii'lterengagement with the element 59 whereby the said sprocket is operatively connected to the shaft 17 at will. It will be noted that single operating lever 49 controls both clutches, and that the arrangement is such that when the clutch 41 42 is engaged, the clutch 5961 is out of engagement, and vice versa. In this manner, it is assured that when the motor is operatively connected with those parts of the mechanism which operate the cage 4, it is disconnected from those parts which actuate the paddle wheel, and vice versa.

The shaft 24 is provided at its outer end with means for taking a crank 63 by means of which the shaft may be turned by hand to actuate either the paddle or the cageshifting mechanism.

In addition to the aforedescribed mechanism, I provide means for bringing the machine to a stop when the cage reaches either extreme of its travel. The control mechanism is well illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, and comprises an arm 65 on the shaft 5 which is connected by means of a link 66 with an electric switch 67 which controls the flow of current to the motor 34. The switch 67 comprises a lever arm 68 attached in a suitable manner to the operating parts of the switch (not shown), and this arm 68 has a pin or crank 69 which projects through a slot 71 at the lower end of the 'link 66. The arrangement, shown diagrammatically in F ig, 6, is such that when the arm 65 is thrown to the left from the position shown in Fig. 5, which occurs when the cage is elevated from the vat, the arm 68 is carried from the illustrated position, in which the switch is closed, to a secondary position, in which the switch is open. The primary positions of the arm 65, the link 66 and the arm 68 are illustrated in full lines in Fig. 6, the secondary position being illustrated in dot and dash lines. The switch may be of the quick action type, actuated by a spring, and the parts are released for actuation by the spring when the cagev is in or close to the extreme elevated position. A hand lever 73 is also provided which is pivoted to the body at 74 and which is provided wth a slot 75 through which the pin 69 extends, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. This lever is moved with the arm 68 from the initial position, as shown in the figures, to a secondary position corresponding to the secondary position of the link 66.

The motor 34 is of the reversible type, and when it is desired to return the cage from the elevated position into the vat, the lever 73 is pushed over to the position shown in. dotted lines in Fig. 6, which has the effect of swinging the arm 68 to a third position, also shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, in which position the switch is closed in such manner to actuate the motor 34 in the reverse direction. It will be noted that the aforedescribed movement of the lever 73 is permitted by the slotted connection between the arm 68 and the link 66, without affecting the position of the arm 65.

As the cage 4 is lowered into the vat and when the cage has assumed its final position or is approaching close thereto, the arm 65 which has moved back to the position shown in Fig. 5 again operates the arm 68 through the link 66 and in a manner similar to that previously described, so that the arm 68 is moved back to the aforesaid secondary position in whichthe switch is opened, thereby again interrupting the operation of the motor. The motor is again set in operation to actuate the "paddle Wheel by swinging the lever 73 back to its original position, thereby closing the switch, the erat-ing lever 49 haviiig first been 'shifte to disconnect the cage-operating mechanism and to connect the pad" leoper'ating mechanism with the motor.

The '0 aeration of themachine "as hereinbefore cescr'ibed willbe obvious. An important feature offthe invention resides in mounting the paddle wheel in-the 'caceso that the paadie wheel is removed with the cage and requires noseparate shifting mechanism. Heretofore, it has been customary to mount the paddle wheel independently of the "cage whereb it was necessary to first elevate the pa dle' wheel before elevating the cage. This arrangement ordinarily involved the use fof second "motor and materially complicated -the mechanism. With the present arrangement, I am able to employ 'afsingle motor forjactuating both the cage and the paddle,jand' have been able to materially 'isimpli'f. the mechanism over that previously employed.

In Fig. 4., 1 have "llus'trated the cage in the elevated fpesitio that the mounting of the paddle wheel 'on the cagedoes notinterfere with the removal of the dyed articles.

The invention is capable of considerable modification. In Figures 7 and 8, I have shown a cage with the paddle wheel adapted for bodily transportation from one vatto another. In this form, a crane or other suitable lifting device maybe employed for lifting the cage with the paddle wheel out of the vat and for transporting it to-any desired position or to another vat or tank. The vat body 1 is in this instance provided with a suitable mechanism for actuating the paddle wheel, this mechanism comprising in the present instance a shaft 7 7 which carries a suitable pulley wheel 7 8 which may be connected by a belt 79 to a pulley .80 on a power shaft 81. The shaft 7 7 also carries a sprocket 16 which may be connected'by means of a chain 15 to a sprocket 14 on a spindle 13 in the casing. The spindle 13 also carries a gear 12 which is adapted to mesh with a gear 11 on the paddle shaft 9, the gears 11 and 12 meshing when the cage is in position in the vat. In this instance, the cage 4 is provided with suitable slings 82, 82, which may be engaged by hooks 83, r 83, on a crane or other lifting mechanism 84. The mechanism may be still further modified without departure from the essential features of the invention,

I claim:

1. The combination with a vat, of a cage adapted to occupy a position within the vat and movable with respect thereto, an agitator carried by the cage, a single power source adapted to move the cage and to operate the agitator, separate clutches for respectively connecting the cage and the agita with n, audit, will be noted the, power 7 source, and means operatively connected with the cage for automatically interrupting the operation of the cage from thepoWer source. l

"i The combination witha vat, of a cage adaptedto occupy a position within the vat and to be moved'into 'andfout of the vat in a fixed path, mechanism including'a reversible motor for "moving thecage, an agitator mounted on the cage and actuatable by said motor, a clutch controlling the connection of the cage operating mechanism with the motor, a clutch controlling the connection between the motor and the agitator, and a member for controllingthe operation of the motor.

3; The combination with a vat, of a cage adapted to occupy a position within the vat and to be moved into and out of the vat in a fixed path,mechani'sm including a reversible motor for moving the cage, an agitator mounted on the cage and actuatable by said motor, "a clutch controlling the connection of the cage operating mechanism with the motorfafclutch controlling the connection between the 'motor and the agitator, and means actuatable by "thecage at predetermined points in its path of travel for-interrupting the operation of the motor.

4:. The combination with a vat, of a cage adapted to occupy a position within the vat andpivotally mounted thereon, mechanism including a power source for elevating and lowering the cage out of and into the vat, an agitator carried by said cage and adapted for actuation from said power source, independent means for controlling the connection between the power source and the cage and between the power source and agitator, and automatic means for interrupting the operation of said power source to control the movement of the cage in both directions.

5. The combination with a vat, of a cage adapted to occupy a position within the vat, mechanism including a power source for shifting the cage with respect to the vat, an agitator carried by the cage and adapted for actuation from said power source, separate means for controlling the connection between the power source and the cage and.

between the power source and the agitator,

lOO

and automatic means for interrupting the operation of said power source to control the movement of the cagewith respect to the vat.

6. The combination with a vat, of a cage adapted to occupy a position within the vat, mechanism including a power source for shifting the cage with respect to the vat, an agitator journaled in the cage and adapted for actuation from said power source, a single control lever adapted /in different positions to disconnect the said agitator and to operatively connect the cage with said power source and vice versa, and automatic means for interrupting the operation of said power source to control the cage-shifting operation.

7. The combination with a vat, of a cage adapted to occupy a position within the vat and movable with respect thereto, an agitator carried by the cage, a single power source adapted to move the cage out of and into the vat and to actuate said agitator, means for independently controlling the operative connection between the cage and the power source and the agitator and power source, and means for interrupting the operation of the power source to control the movement of the cage with respect to the vat.

8. The combination with a vat, of a cage adapted to occupy a position within the vat and movable with respect thereto, an agitator carried by the cage, a single power unit adapted to shift the cage with respect to the vat and to actuate said agitator, and a sin gle element for controlling the connections between the cage and the agitator and the said mechanism, and automatic means for interrupting the operation of said power unit to control the movement of the cage with res ect to the vat.

9. The combination with a vat, of a cage adapted to occupy a position within the vat and movable with respect thereto, an agitator carried by the cage, a single power unit adapted to move the cage and said agitator, separate clutches for respectively connecting the cage and the agitator with the power unit, a single control element for operating the clutches, and means for automatically interrupting the operation of the power unit to control the movement of the cage with respect to the vat.

10. The combination with a vat, of a cage adapted to occupy a position within the vat, mechanism for swinging said cage from its position within the tank to an outward position and for returning the cage within the vat,'said mechanism including a reversible motor, a switch controlling the operation of the motor, a slotted link forming connection between the cage and said switch and adapted when the cage is shifted to the outward position or returned to the inward position to open said switch, and manual means for closing the switch to actuate the motor in both obverse and reverse directions.

JAMES H. SKITT.

to operate 

